Case Study 5: New Venture Problem

When Billie Aherne learned that the government was soliciting contracts for the manufacture of microcomputer
components, she read the solicitation carefully. Billie’s knowledge of microcomputers is extensive, and for the
past five years she has been a university professor actively engaged in research in this area. If she could land
this government contract, Billie felt certain she would be well on her way to going into business designing
microcomputer components.
Billie asked for a leave of absence so she could bid on the microcomputer contract. She then worked-up a detailed
proposal and submitted it to the government. Eight months ago she learned she had been awarded the contract. For
the next four months, Billie and two university colleagues who had joined her worked on completing their state-
of-the-art components. When private firms learned of their contract, Billie was inundated with requests for
components. She realized that as soon as she completed her government contract, she would be free to enter into
contracts with private firms. Two months ago Billie shipped the components to the government. The next week
she began signing contracts with firms in the private sector. In all, Billie signed agreements with six firms to
provide each of them an average of $400,000 worth of components over the next four months. Last week the first
shipment of components was delivered to one of the private firms.
In the mail earlier today Billie received a letter from the government. The communication informed her of
quality problems with the components she had manufactured and shipped. Part of the letter read, “it took
approximately four weeks of use before it became evident your components have a quality flaw. We believe the
problem is in the basic design. We would like to meet with you at the earliest possible time to discuss your
design and to agree on which steps must be taken in order for you to comply with the terms of your contract”.
Billie hoped to keep this news quiet until she could talk to the government representatives and find-out what is
going wrong. However, an hour ago she received a call from one of the private firms. “We hear that the
microcomputer components you shipped to the government had a quality flaw”, the speaker told Billie. “Could
you tell us exactly what the problem is?”

Questions:
a) What happened? What mistake did Billie make in terms of the new venture?
b) How could this problem have been prevented? Defend your answer.
c) What lesson about new-venture assessment does this case provide? Be complete in your answer.